Staycation: Meranti Hotel Quezon City (March 2017)

It's our Tariel's first birthday, but we decided to celebrate it in a simple way. We have a small family lunch at house and then we booked a hotel just here in Manila, and that's is Meranti Hotel located in Quezon City.

Good thing that this hotel is easy to find,we booked via travelbook.ph, for 3 days and 2 nights. Well, based on what i have read on other review Meranti hotel gives a complimentary Gulaman drink upon waiting for checking in, I saw a group of koreans were given this drink and the sad reality is we didn't received that drink even upon reaching our room. Though their staff are accommodating and smiling all the time.

(Hotel lobby)

Room:

We booked a standard room, the room is very spacious and enough for the three of us, Tariel can walk and crawl around the room. But our room is facing a big white wall, I do hope that they offer their room with a view. Another good thing about their room is they have a SMART TV so you can browse the net if you want.

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served near the hotel lobby, there's a few range of food to choose from, but I think you can check their menu for other choices. (anyway we received a complimentary pancake for Tariel :) lucky kiddo!)

 (OUR BREAKFAST)

(a wide mirror for OOTD)

Bathroom:

What I don't like on their bathroom is your reflection can be seen at the opposite side where there's a wide mirror (see my post above), the glass frost didn't help a lot to cover up.

(Hotel Facade)

POOL:

The Pool is located at the roof top, they called it 'Penthouse'. A small size dipping pool and you can't enjoy it once it become crowded. Good thing that we were the first one to use the pool and we are able to take a photo like this.

Overall we had a good stay in Meranti Hotel, my husband want to go back here :)

MERANTI HOTEL

82 Scout Castor, Quezon City, 1100

Joaquin Bed & Breakfast Tagaytay

It was a quick decision to spent overnight in tagaytay, and i'm glad i was able to booked Joaquin Bed and Breakfast at the same day since i know most of the hotel in tagaytay are fully booked but maybe because it's not a peak season we were able to book :)

Joaquin Bed and Breakfast is nestled along aguinaldo highway and has a taal overlooking view it's been a week since i told b to spent a day in tagaytay in a hotel with a taal view.

Joaquin Bed and Breakfast has Shabby Chic Inspired furniture our room is dimmed lighted maybe because they need to exude a romantic vibes, I love how our room looked like and it smelled good
i thought we were entering a spa :) all staff are courteous  and accommodating ,stay cation is one of the best thing to do in this place b and i spent the whole night watching movie then drink coffee in the veranda perfect night ever so simple all we do is cuddling look at the bed best for honeymooners.

I suggest if you're going to booked them try their room with a garden i think it's much more private and romantic.

(the bed)

(Complimentary bottled water and coffee)

(Clean Bathroom, I'm particular to this)

(nice display)

(our breakfast)

Joaquin Bed & Breakfast

KM. 58 Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City

http://www.joaquinsbedandbreakfast.com

Costa Pacifica Baler Review (11th year Anniversary)

It’s our anniversary again and our annual vacation take us to Baler dubbed as Sleepy Town up north. we booked at Costa Pacifica Baler the 4 star hotel of baler we love the Luxe feeling of this hotel we felt that we were a VIP's. B and I took Joy Bus to get there an executive couch bus wherein they offer snacks, blanket, toilet and an attendant on board. We arrive 7:00 am in Baler Town and a shuttle from Costa Pacifica hotel is already there I think they really expect that there is a guest arriving.

SERVICE & STAFF:

 What we really love is the staff are very welcoming they smile all the time. We arrived 7:00 am a shuttle of Costa Pacifica was already there to fetch hotel guest as we arrived at Costa Pacifica we noticed how inviting and cozy the reception lobby that they had. We never thought that they will allowed us to check in as early as 7:30 am since the check in time is 2:00 pm we were delightful since it means we have an additional hour to enjoy our room and take a rest from a long drive hour from manila after filling up the form a hotel staff named Wilson ushered us to our room he bring all bags that we have our room is in Casa de bahia which is a few steps across the main hotel.

Casa de Bahia

The Room has an all white paint and has a minimalist interior which has a relaxing vibe with complete toiletries and an ample snacks in mini bar but we don’t have closet in our room that’s why we put our stuff in a long bench just beside our bed we also don’t have a table since we order in Beach house and deliver it to our room. I suggest that they should have a closet and a mini table inside the room so that we wouldn't end up eating at the bed.

(snack bar)

Beach House restaurant:

Is the only restaurant in this hotel they offer buffet and ala carte and even some booze, we tried their Asian Buffet for dinner and they had a wide range of cuisine to choose from. Even their breakfast buffet is superb but the coffee is requested separately.

Beach house

(no need to use filter)

Massage: 

Were really into massage specially me that’s why b contacted the receptionist if we could set an appointment at 10:00pm. The Masseur’s are on time they asked us first what oil we would like and I choose lemon grass with green tea, it will be our first time to have a massage in bed without a facehole, the massage ore ok it’s a typical ‘’Pinoy hilot with tangal lamig’’ but after a minute I feel uncomfortable since I have to changed the position of my head I thought I’m going to have a stiff neck I hope that they will have a face hole and MP3 for sounds since it’s too quiet and I suggest that they will also have a massage room secluded over all the massage is great after that we have good night sleep.

We love this hotel and this is highly recommended despite the fact that it much costly compare to the other hotel along sabang beach . B and i enjoy each moment that we were there.

Date Travel: March 2014

Total Damage: 15k+ + +  ( 2 nights and 3 days for whole baler trip take note that we only stay 1 night at costa pacifica  )

How to get there:

 We book at Genesis Joy Bus an executive couch with a nonstop drive in manila to Baler with toilet available inside the bus and a snack, bottled water and a blanket since it was too cold and it will only takes 5 hours with only 700 PHP.

COSTA PACIFICA BALER

inquiry@costapacificabaler.com

Address: 080 Buton St., Sitio Labasin, Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora, Philippines, 3200

http://www.costapacificabaler.com/

Thunderbird Resort- Rizal

March is one my favorite month because this month we will celebrate our 10th year anniversary :) and we decided to celebrate it at Thunderbird Casino & Resort-Rizal we celebrate it last March 9 &10 but actually our anniversary is March 19 we just celebrate it advance on it's actual date and because it was just an hour away in the metro and in a reasonable price the superior room we got is spacious and clean , the hotel staff are very accommodating they see to it that we had a wonderful stay.

SERVICE & STAFF:
From front desk they welcomed us with warm greetings the check in time is 2:00 but we arrived earlier and allow us to check-in about 1:20 the room boy accompanied  us in our room bring our luggage. The guard, house keepers are so welcoming they always greeted us ''good afternoon mam, sir'' which what we really like. there are some glitches like what happen to the Koi restaurant but the receptionist apologize to us which is forgiven.

THE ROOM:
 The room is spacious it supposed to be two queen beds but i request to change it into king size bed instead, it has mini ref and a snack bar. our room is facing the car park but we still had a great view at night. the bathroom  are clean and spacious too with complete set of toiletries and towel. I love the bed since it was neat, soft and clean and it had 5 pillows which b & i really like.

(toiletries)

The Key Cards & Complimentary drinks coupons.

THE FOOD: 

Thunder bird has three restaurant The Koi Restaurant, Pool Bar and Cabana Bar (which we haven't try) we had this snack at Pool Bar and i love the food the chef is the one who prepared the food which is really great.

But we were disappointed at Koi Restaurant there's is no slot available when we arrive there it was 8:00 and the restaurant is still full  the receptionist asked us if it is okay if we will just order there and the food will be deliver at pool bar since there's is no available table for us. We agree to that but i saw that a family finished already and there's available table so i insisted to eat there, we were sit there for 20 minutes waiting for someone giving us a menu to my surprise we were the one who approached the receptionist and she's who will take the order from us :/ imagine she keep us waited eh she's the one who will take the order naman and not the waiter who seems so busy but not i estimate the there's 30 people inside the restaurant compared it to the fast food chain and you will see the different i think they can manage that number of people, the food is not presentable the food that my mom cooked is much better :/ and guess what our bill is 1000 :O for that kind of food a sweet and sour and a tempura (see the photos below).

But Breakfast buffet which is in Koi Restaurant also, has more organize compare to their sit down dinner set up.

(we asked the receptionist to take a photos of us)

Food at Pool Bar

b & i at Pool Bar

THE SPA: 

I love Zaphira Signature Massage i really love massage and i'm glad that Thunderbird had this Spa, read more about Zaphira Spa.

THE SWIMMING POOL & JACUZZI:

We love the swimming pool and outdoor jacuzzi, the pool is crowded from 4:00-6:00,  b and i decided to swim at 5:00 it's not crowded only few bunch group of friends and family are there we love dipping in outdoor Jacuzzi i spend most of the time there. Actually the pool is an Infinity pool but it doesn't look like maybe because of it shape.

 outdoor jacuzzi

OVERALL VERDICT:

Our 10th year anniversary is memorable because of what Thunderbird Resort offer to us, I thank them despite of some glitches i highly recommended this place.

Thunderbird Resorts – Rizal
Eastridge Avenue
Binangonan, Rizal,
Philippines 1940
T: (+63 2) 651.6888
F: (632) 651.3893
E: rizalreservations@thunderbird-asia.com